Malaria leads in health cases in Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District

Malaria continues to lead in cases brought to the 12 health facilities in the Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa District, the Medical Director of Health, Dr Luiz Amousou-Gohungo, has said.

Speaking at a mid-year performance review meeting at Breman Asikuma, he said in 2010 the facilities recorded 909 malaria cases and this figure jumped to 916 in 2011.

The number of pregnant women diagnosed at the facilities increased from 63 in 2010 to 90 in 2011.

Malaria cases among children under five years reduced from 583 in 2010 to 563 in 2011, adding that patients from five-year and above cases increased slightly from 263 in 2010 to 262 in 2011.

In-patient malaria deaths reduced from 27 in 2010 to 22 in 2011 and still birth cases increased from 47 in 2010 to 56 between January and July 2011.

Dr Amousou-Gohungo said to help reduce malaria cases in the district, the directorate had put in place measures and also make sure that patients, especially pregnant women, take the approved malaria drugs correctly.

The measures include improving management of malaria cases and stepping up health education at health facilities and communities in the district.

Dr Amousou-Gohungo advised against self-medication and seeking health from unqualified medical practitioners who in most cases rather compounded patients’ problems.

Mrs Gertrude Mensah Adoo, the District Nursing Manager, said health facilities in the district were facing some challenges.

They include inadequate midwives and lack of funds to organize health sensitization programmes and appealed to the Ghana Health Service to support the District Directorate to address these challenges.

Source: GNA